Chapter Fifty-Six: Filth is Pure

"Is the princess praising this humble servant?" Miao Jian did not answer, but asked in earnest.

"I'm not praising you," Xiaoxi replied, eyes blinking innocently. "Because Uncle Miao Jian is already handsome enough, he doesn't need my praise."

Miao Jian looked at the little girl before him and finally reached out to ruffle her hair, showing an uncle's affection. "Princess, you should rest early. In a few days, Her Grace will return."

"Then, when I wake up, will I open my eyes and see my mother?"

"That I cannot promise," Miao Jian replied seriously, his stern face sharply outlined in the lamplight.

At last, he coaxed Xiaoxi back to her room to sleep. Miao Jian closed her door, and a guard approached to report, "My lord, we just caught a sneaky maid. We don't know what she was up to."

"Deal with her quietly," Miao Jian ordered.

"Shouldn't we interrogate her?" The guard asked, a little uncertain.

"No need." Nothing useful would be gained, and even if there was an answer, it would be the same as all the others.

—

Ji Kingdom, Royal Palace.

The Hall of Tranquility.

Night draped itself over the palace, and all within slept. With the king absent and the queen resting in her own quarters for her health, the palace had grown all the quieter, the atmosphere colder still. Although the palace was always serene, something seemed missing now.

In the Empress Dowager's chambers, the décor was elegant in its simplicity.

"The most urgent matter is to find out whether the queen is still in her own quarters. If she is, is she truly ill? If not, where has she gone?" The Empress Dowager, clad in white nightclothes, her long hair loose and threaded with silver, spoke calmly.

"My lady, could it be that our methods are flawed? It's been so long, and we've yet to learn anything useful," said Yuxiao, dressed in pale pink, a matching cloak draped about her shoulders, clearly having come in haste by night.

"What do you suggest?"

"Perhaps we shouldn't act ourselves, but use another's hand. Outsiders always have unpredictable moves and outcomes," Yuxiao mused, her gentle face thoughtful. "Did you not mention there was someone we might use? Pity we've not tried her yet. Who knows if this blade is sharp—now would be the time to find out."

"Well said, and with the king absent, we still have time," the Empress Dowager nodded.

Soon after, Yuxiao left the Empress Dowager's chambers, her attendant waiting outside.

The palace was cold in the night. The maid carried a triangular lantern at Yuxiao's side. "My lady, who knows when the king will return. They say he left the palace to learn of the people's hardships, but the rumor is he used this as an excuse to seek medicine for the ailing queen."

"Hmph. Kingdom or beauty—though the queen has always been favored, one must know what truly matters," Yuxiao laughed, her tone laced with something unreadable—was she mocking the palace women, or herself?

"Indeed, my lady. But our contacts outside say the king has left the Yueji Teahouse, his whereabouts unknown."

"…So perhaps he truly is gone for the queen's sake." At this, her face stiffened, her words nearly muttered to herself.

—

"Well, if it isn't the Imperial Consort. How are you, sister? Out so late for a stroll?" Jin Concubine approached, her tone mocking as she bowed to Yuxiao.

"Aren't you also out for a stroll?" Yuxiao glanced at her, her gaze sharper than usual.

"And why do you look at me so?" Under that piercing look, Jin Concubine shrank back.

"I haven't seen you in some time, so I wanted to see if you still look well. But isn't it rather rude of you to stare at me so openly?" Yuxiao's eyes held a regal air, so different from her usual calm.

Jin Concubine merely laughed. "You only borrowed the Empress Dowager's favor. Once you kept to yourself and never offended anyone. Now you see the queen is unwell and want to take her place?"

A mere concubine, yet her eyes brimmed with disdain for a Consort.

"Mind your words, Jin Concubine. If the king hears of this, even the Empress Dowager may not protect you," Yuxiao warned, her tone edged with reprimand.

"Of late, you are the Empress Dowager’s favorite. I, her niece, am nothing compared to you, an outsider." The bitterness in Jin Concubine's heart was clear.

She had hoped to use her aunt’s status to rise in the palace, but first the blind queen, then Yuxiao—never had the Empress Dowager helped her, always favoring outsiders.

"It seems your mind isn’t clear, Jin Concubine. First you disrespect the queen, now even the Empress Dowager herself." Yuxiao’s voice rose, clearly angered. "You’d best return to your quarters and learn some manners, or you’ll shame not only yourself but the Empress Dowager as well."

"What do you mean by that? Don't think just because the queen is ill, you can take over!" Jin Concubine retorted, her maid silently lamenting her mistress’s lack of sense.

"I have no wish to argue with you." Yuxiao turned away, speaking to the young eunuch beside her. "By my order, Jin Concubine is to reflect in seclusion for seven days. If she continues this reckless talk, I’ll report it to the king and the Empress Dowager."

"So you really think you’re in charge now… Hey, what are you doing, you dogs!" Jin Concubine protested, but two eunuchs quickly restrained her.

"Take her away, before she offends my ears further," Yuxiao commanded, every inch the Imperial Consort—yet her authority came not from arrogance, but from principle.

Only after Jin Concubine was taken away did Yuxiao’s expression soften, returning to the indifferent consort who cared for nothing.

"Jin Concubine is far too audacious for a mere concubine."

Indeed, for one of her station to speak so. She relied on the Empress Dowager being her aunt, but what use was that title?

After half a day’s journey, Yuxiao was drowsy—she hadn’t slept well for days. Now she only longed for a warm bed and a night’s rest, free from all worries.

At last, the carriage stopped before a grand inn. The street was nearly deserted, the night cold and late. Only the inn’s sign glowed bright, lanterns hanging bravely against the chill.

She wore plain clothes, thin and ill-suited to the winter. Fortunately, Little Li nestled quietly in her arms, its warmth comforting.

Climbing the steps, drowsiness weighed on her, yet she felt a probing gaze.

"Young master, it’s really her. She’s blind—I never noticed before," murmured a woman in crimson, marveling to her master.

"Indeed. She’s quite the deceiver," added Qing Shu in green.

The two maids fell silent as Zuo Qiu Liye approached, stepping aside respectfully. None dared address the prince carelessly—the consequences were not theirs to bear.

"We meet again." Gongshen Linger watched the girl before her, eyes trailing over her face and attire.

Clearly, she was an ordinary girl, yet her features were strikingly pure, her presence quietly compelling. Just days ago, the girl had none of this aura, which was why she had been overlooked. She was adept at concealing herself.

"And you are…" She remembered this woman, though they were strangers.

"Gongshen Linger," she replied.

"Master Zuo Qiu calls me Xiaoxue."

"Is that your real name? Are you truly called Xiaoxue?" Gongshen Linger asked skeptically.

"Some call me Xue’er. Or perhaps, Miss Gongshen, you’d like me to invent another name to deceive you?"

"Quite the sharp tongue," Gongshen Linger sniffed, her face veiled, revealing only lively eyes and the hint of red lips beneath.

"Oh? Are you interrogating my Xiaoxue now?" Zuo Qiu Liye approached Xuexue, his tone inscrutable.

"Are you worried for her?" Gongshen Linger’s smile did not reach her eyes.

"I haven’t yet asked—Master Zuo Qiu, where am I to stay?" Xuexue cut in, too weary to waste words.

"If you shared a room with me, would you mind?" He seemed to be joking, or perhaps not.

"As long as I can sleep," she replied. It was still better than a broken-down temple.

In the end, the woman in crimson led Xuexue to her room. With only Qingshu and Crimson as maids, Gongshen Linger’s attendant had to stand in as a servant.

"You’re quite something for a blind girl—not the least afraid of our lord," Crimson remarked, opening the door and watching Xuexue walk steadily, no less sure-footed than anyone.

"When you can’t see, there’s nothing to fear," Xuexue replied, making her way to the bed and collapsing onto its soft warmth.

Little Li, always in her arms, stretched and sleepily climbed to her shoulder, nuzzling her face with warm fur before drifting off again.

"Hey, look at you—dirty from head to toe. You’d best bathe before sleeping," Crimson chided, coming to the bed.

"Filth is but another kind of purity; purity is but another kind of filth."